The curious case of Kikki Singh: From poet photographed with president to FIR over CJI Gavai AI video

“Her poetry collection has received a great response. She has been praised by President Ram Nath Kovind for her works and has won more than two dozen awards for her ‘brilliant’ writing. Afflicted with cerebral palsy, Kikki faced many challenges over the years but kept moving forward with strong willpower and courage.”

That’s how a newspaper report described Swati, also known as Kikki Singh of Ranchi, in 2022. It told the story of a differently-abled woman who had overcome adversity to achieve literary success.

But that image crumbles on looking at Singh’s social media feeds, with several abusive, casteist and communal posts. She is now in the spotlight for one of them.

Singh has been booked for posting an AI-generated video depicting Chief Justice Bhushan Gavai being slapped with shoes. The video had portrayed the CJI in blue, with an earthen pot around his neck. It was a chilling reference to an inhumane casteist practice once imposed on Dalits, and it had appeared days after Supreme Court advocate Rakesh Kishore hurled shoes at the CJI in the courtroom.

An FIR has been registered at the Panvel Taluka police station in Navi Mumbai under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on a complaint from an advocate.

Pictures with politicians across the spectrum

In 2021, Singh was appointed as an advisor to the Karni Sena’s national executive and often appeared on Jharkhand news channels as a “political expert”. 

On X (formerly Twitter), Singh now describes herself as a “Sanatani lover, freelancer, journalist, poet, and motivational speaker”. She has authored two short books – Shaadi Ka Sapna and Tere Naam Ka – and posts about her supposed literary achievements. 

What also stands out on her social media account is her apparent access to the political elite. In different photographs, she has been seen alongside President Droupadi Murmu, former president Ram Nath Kovind, BJP leaders Ramesh Bais, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Arjun Munda, Raghuvar Das, and even NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar. 

But her social media history suggests a pattern of inflammatory and defamatory posts, including one accusing Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk of “weaponising Gen Z” to set the BJP office afire.

In a post after the FIR, she said she “could not understand one thing”. “Joote khaane waale ko koi farak nahin pada, joote marne waale ko koi farak nahin pada, aur joote se maar khaate hue darshaane waalon ko koi farak nahin pada, toh phir in neele kabootaron ko itna mirch kyun lag gaya (The one who got hit by the shoe didn’t care, the one who threw the shoe didn’t care, and even the people who showed it happen didn’t care – so why are these blue pigeons so ruffled?”),” she said, in a derogatory reference to Ambedkarite activists.

Case filed, no arrest yet

Senior Police Inspector Gajanan Ghadge of the Panvel Taluka police station told Newslaundry, “She is the first person who posted that video. It was an AI generated video with a pot in the neck of CJI. We have booked her under the relevant section of SC/ST act. Further investigations are going to find out more about the video. We have not arrested her yet but we will take appropriate action soon.”

Rajendra Gavai, brother of CJI Bhushan Gavai, said, “There is a protocol, so I cannot comment in detail, even though I want to. But I would like to say this: if a person holding such a high constitutional post can be targeted with highly objectionable casteist remarks, then imagine the risk for ordinary people. Stricter regulations are needed to curb such posts on social media. This is not just about this case, people often hide behind social media to make all kinds of hateful and offensive comments.”

Beed-based Dalit activist Ashok Tangade said, “In ancient times, Dalits were subjected to cruel practices. Pots were tied around their necks and brooms to their waists. The pot was meant to prevent the road from being contaminated by their saliva if they spat, and the broom was used to clean their steps so that the roads remained pure. Even their shadows were not supposed to fall on upper-caste people. These were hateful and inhuman acts.”

“The recent incident involving CJI Gavai shows that such discriminatory mindsets have not disappeared. People still harbour the same intent to demean Dalits. If someone at the highest judicial position in the country can be targeted this way, one can only imagine the treatment faced by ordinary Dalits.”

Tangade added that parts of the media are complicit too, for not asking tough questions. “It’s shocking to see certain outlets giving platform to such people without asking hard questions. When casteist abuse is normalised online, it emboldens others. Unless strict action is taken, this poison will spread further.”

Newslaundry reached out to Singh for comment. This report will be updated if a response is received.

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